Superfast Worcestershire looks for 'broadband enthusiasts'

Friday, May 27th 2016by Phil Wilkinson-Jones

The partnership rolling out fibre broadband in Worcestershire is looking for volunteers to spread the word about the benefits of the technology.

Superfast Worcestershire, a partnership between Worcestershire County Council and BT, has given access to fibre broadband to more than 54,000 premises that wouldn’t have been covered by commercial rollouts.

One in three households and businesses have already signed up for fibre services, but the project is now looking for ‘community champions’ to get even more people interested.

“You don’t have to be a technical expert to be a broadband community champion,” said John Yeo, who has been extolling the virtues of fibre in Wadborough for the past six months.

“You just need to have a passion for sharing the good news about when the technology is going to become available and the ways in which people can benefit.

“This might involve putting up posters on local notice boards, delivering flyers or posting on local websites. How much you get involved is up to you.”

Councillor Ken Pollock, Worcestershire’s cabinet member for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: “The Superfast Worcestershire roll-out is progressing well and we’re keen for even more people to benefit from this new technology.

“We’re now on the look-out for volunteers to become local broadband community champions across the county and especially in some of the new areas where fibre broadband is, or soon will be, available for the first time.

“With the support of broadband enthusiasts spreading the word in their communities there’s no doubt that the programme will be even more of a success.”

'Major engineering programme'

He said anyone interested in becoming a community champion should email superfast@worcestershire.gov.uk or get in touch with Superfast Worcester on Facebook or Twitter.

The latest areas included in the Superfast Worcestershire rollout include Ashton-Under-Hill, Bredon, Droitwich, Fernhill Heath, Kempsey, Upton-upon-Severn, Wythall and Romsley.

Colin Bannon, BT’s regional director for the West Midlands, said: “Our project teams are working hard to make fibre broadband available to as many communities as soon as possible.

“Superfast Worcestershire is a major engineering programme, with around 325 new roadside fibre broadband cabinets now ‘live’.

“When combined with BT’s commercial rollout of the technology, more than 238,000 households and businesses across Worcestershire are now able to connect to fibre broadband.”